Photo By Sgt. Ian Tracy | U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Shawn Fuellenbach, Assistant Adjutant General of the Utah...... read more read more
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Utah National Guard’s Engineers Give Vernal Airport a New Lift
Utah Army National Guard story by Sgt. Ian Tracy
Vernal City is a rural town located in northeastern Utah where the past is still present. A remote town that is rich in history offers a lot for outdoor enthusiasts and serves as the Gateway to Dinosaur National Monument. With locations like Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, Green River, the Uintah Mountains and various other outdoor recreations. These attractions bring a lot of outdoor enthusiasts to this rural haven. Just over 100 miles separates this town
from Salt Lake City. One of the most popular methods of transit is private aviation, using the local airport as the main access point. Several safety concerns existed causing multiple issues to pilots and visitors ranging from tall dirt berms, limited landing areas, and short runways. Conversations between Vernal City officials and members of the Utah National Guard’s 1457th Engineers Battalion and the 116th Engineer Vertical Construction Company ignited hopes to solve these issues.
Engineers were able to coordinate key problem areas that needed repair to the Headquarters Battalion via the Innovative Readiness Training program. Through the IRT program, Vernal City personnel were able to get the help they needed and give the Engineers some practical training in their respective military professions. Vernal City and the Engineers agreed that the airport seemed to be the best project to challenge and sharpen the skills of the units. The units worked with the airport’s general manager, Ken Campell, which proved to be advantageous as he is a retired Army Colonel and has experience in the hurdles and challenges necessary to navigate the roadblocks of this project. Planning started around October 2024 and they finished planning by April 2025. The units would take on this project as the required annual training scheduled for the upcoming summer.
“The partnership has allowed Engineers to train on meaningful, real-world projects while providing direct improvements to the region’s transportation infrastructure, a win-win for readiness and public service,” said 2nd Lt. Alyssa Baird of the 1457th Engineers Battalion, Utah Army National Guard.
During the course of the operation, the 116th EVCC moved an estimated 2,150 tons (or over 4.7 million pounds) of earth using bulldozers, graders and hydraulic excavators. This included excavation for new drainage systems (V-ditches), grading the runway hammerhead and runway extension, runway turnaround, clearing and preparing a new taxi road, and more. Some major roadblocks during the training were supply logistics and material coordination. To overcome this the 166th used their partnership with the city to source the materials from Vernal Airport. Close liaison work with Ken Campell ensured the right materials were delivered on time and fit the specifications needed to finish the job.
“This project is more than just a runway or new bathrooms. It’s a bridge between our community and our combat effectiveness. Working side-by-side with Vernal City, our Engineers are sharpening the very skills we’ll need to survive and win in a deployed environment. Every ditch we dig, every structure we raise makes us more capable, more resilient, and more lethal. At the same time, we’re showing this community what their citizen Soldiers can do — not just when disaster strikes, but every single day we put on this uniform.” said Capt. Cai Greef, Commander, 116th Engineer Vertical Construction Company.
During the construction phase of this project, the non-commissioned officers relied on their leadership and skills to facilitate the movement of earth, obtain critical supplies, and provide quality restoration to the local airport facilities. These IRT missions provide a great training venue for our Engineers to not only grow in their field, but to evolve as critical thinking leaders who are capable of real-time solutions in a fast-paced environment.
| Date Taken: | 06.17.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 06.18.2025 16:40 |
| Story ID: | 500901 |
| Location: | VERNAL, UTAH, US |
| Web Views: | 86 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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